Parents were upset when a recent Sunday paper reported that the new curriculum will include topics such as masturbation, concerned perhaps that their Grade 4's would be learning too much about the birds and the bees, too soon.

The Department of Education clapped back, clarifying “The Grade 4s will learn, in a most age appropriate and sensitive way, how babies are made" and that the curriculum "encourages pupils to share what celebrations they know of linked to welcoming children into the world, such as Imbeleko.”

In a statement the department distanced itself from the article saying it was misleading the public. “The article is misleading and in fact, a complete misrepresentation of the work the Department is doing. It’s unfortunate that the article he published has now caused mass hysteria unnecessarily and has caused confusion,” read the statement.

It went on to say that the journalist failed to mention that the conversation he had with the Director-General Mathanzima Mweli was on a separate but related matter.

“The new Life Orientation textbook for Grade 4 currently being written does not cover masturbation. The textbook content for sexuality education in this grade is guided by UNESCO’S International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach (2018), as well as by the input and guidance of research and evidence-based highly respected South African institutions. The Grade 4s will learn, in a most age appropriate and sensitive way, how babies are made and encourages learners to share what celebrations they know of linked to welcoming children into the world, such as Imbeleko,” confirmed the department.

Shocking. When the world is focusing their education on Maths and science, our focus is on sex education for Grade 4s. I was insulted and called names when I questioned the distribution of sanitary pads to such babies on their first day in school by Minister Mokonyane https://t.co/R22HSk9or4

Why are we acting like sex education is a bad thing? We are not even asking how the curriculum is gonna be taught and in what stages, yet we are enraged. We are not even asking why sex education is needed.